Photo by Mike GilesJohn Temple and Lee Temple wait for the birds to flush as the pointers search for the hidden quail. 

David Cotton turned his pointers loose and they started hunting immediately before screeching to a halt and locking up on point. As the hunters eased toward the dogs a covey of quail exploded from the brush and veered to our left past the hunters. Shots rang out and John Temple and Lee Temple burned up a couple quail and nailed our first birds of the day. It was just the beginning of a successful hunting trip that continued throughout the day for the cousins who grew up hunting and chasing anything that ventured near their grandmother’s house.

Cotton worked his dogs as only an expert trainer can and directed them as they worked the rolling hills and pine thickets for singles near Mashulaville. It didn’t take long for them to freeze up on point again and shots rang out and another bird was history. Wayne Edwards pulled a fine bead on a quail with his new Berretta Shotgun and it disappeared in a flurry of feathers.

There’s just nothing quite as exciting as walking up behind dogs on point and experiencing the heart pounding adrenalin rush as a covey of quail explode from the brush and fly in all directions like they were shot out of a canon. More than a few pine trees were shot during the day, though I imagine most would not admit that they shot a tree instead of a bird. It’s not too hard to do as the quail weave their way among the pine trees trying to make their escape. It didn’t take me long to bust one as I followed a quail’s flight bath right behind a tree.

Although modern quail hunting in most of the south is relegated to preserve birds, they’re flight conditioned and fly fast and far if you miss, giving hunters a glimpse of glorious hunts of yesteryear when quail covered the south like deer do now days. The action at Dancing Rabbit Quail Preserve was hot and fast and provided challenges and adrenalin filled action.

Driving into Dancing Rabbit you’re treated to a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, open pine plantations with fields and lakes dotting the landscape. It’s the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

Cotton combined his love for dogs, quail hunting and people in his vision that became the Dancing Rabbit Hunting Preserve. Cotton wants to give people a chance to enjoy nature and step away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Though the focus is quail hunting, Cotton always starts the day with a quick devotion and prayer before the hunt begins.

Shane Martin, pastor of They Way Community Church, started our day off with an uplifting devotional that included a short scripture and concluded with a prayer. It was a reminder of the important things in life and getting back to the basics of what really matters.

Our quail hunt was filled with plenty of fast paced action and camaraderie as the Temples and Wayne Edwards blazed away at the quail while only missing a few. Some of the most fun we had was hunting the singles up after the covey rises. On more than one occasion birds would buzz by our heads in the wrong direction and send us scrambling for a good shot. More than a few birds escaped the initial covey rises but few made it out alive as Cotton’s dogs were excellent hunters and eventually found every single, we’d missed.

On one occasion a bird had buried up in a thicket and the dogs worked all around before one pointed him as we were leaving the area. The bird exploded straight up through the brush like a rocket and shots rang out simultaneously from three hunters and the bird disappeared in a puff of feathers. When you’ve got the Temple “boys” shooting on either side of you there’s not much chance a bird is going to get by everyone. When the bird flies straight away it’s a done deal because they’re not going to miss those very often.

After an action-packed morning in the piney woods we settled down to a country feast that was just the ticket on a cold morning. Marvin Tucker, “Big T”, made a pot of some of the finest tasting chili I’ve ever eaten, and the cornbread pancakes were just like grandma used to make and every bit as tasty. It just doesn’t get much better than those.

We finished the day with a ride in the UTV as the dogs worked the surrounding area hunting any quail that may have escaped. We eventually found almost every quail we’d shot at, ending up with 49 while only one escaped by flying across a lake and diving into a thicket.

If you’re looking for a glimpse of bygone days with fast paced quail hunting action, then you might want to give David Cotton a call at 662-803-0614 or on Facebook at Dancing Rabbit Quail Preserve.

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.